A family are begging to leave mouldy council flat as their children have been hospitalised because of breathing issues. Father, Said Ali. claims the situation is getting out of control in the property and his son told him 'I can't breathe in here'.
The family currently reside in a two-bedroom apartment in Birmingham, with five children sharing a bedroom with wed bedsheets and mouldy curtains. The mother and father claim that a leak from above their home has caused wet rot in their apartment.
The pair say this has cause mould to spread throughout the property including their toilet, which is covered in fully-grown mushrooms. However, the family say they are stuck in the horrible conditions due the long wait for a new bigger council house, reports Birmingham Live.
Despite the impending wait. mum, Emma Whitehouse says "they can't go on like this." She said: "I've called around 20 different housing associations but there's nothing."
"Some have even closed their applications because there are too many people applying." Plagued by eczema and breathing issues the couple's children now bear the cost.
Said said: "When a four-year-old kid is telling you himself that he can't breathe, that's when you know there is a problem.
"Usually kids don't care about this stuff, they play with their toys, they don't usually know what is happening but they are telling me daddy I can't breathe in here. It's so bad, everywhere there's just mould and I have to clean it constantly because my kids are going to the hospital.
"I cleaned it a few days ago because my four-year-old came out of hospital after being on oxygen and the mould is already back. They have severe asthma and they have to breathe in this stuff all day.
"Before we took him to the hospital last time his breathing had slowed and his body was stiff." The family claims, besides offering to paint over the mould, Birmingham Council has done nothing.
Emma said: "A few years ago they came round and painted over it but after a few months it was already back and we haven't had any help since." Green Party Councillor Julien Pritchard says "the family deserve better."
He said: "The conditions Emma and her family are having to live with are appalling, and are massively worsening her children's health. The council need to take this seriously and sort it out, so she has a safe and healthy home for her and her family.
"Unfortunately, cases like this are not uncommon. On too many occasions the council just hasn't taken issues of damp and mould seriously enough, not to mention leaks, heating and other maintenance problems.
"Birmingham City Council needs to get much better at sorting out housing issues like this. Tenants like Emma deserve so much better."
In response, Birmingham City Council said: "We apologise for the distress that this case has caused the tenant. We have contacted the tenant and are arranging with them to treat the mould as a matter of urgency.
"A housing officer has also been in contact with them regarding housing options in line with our allocation policy. As the largest social landlord in the country Birmingham City Council inspects its properties for mould as part of its focus on carrying out increased numbers of home visits and is actively working with our tenants to prevent it.
"To assist them we are producing a housing toolkit which includes advice on treating mould and a leaflet which we will be distributing to all vulnerable tenants. We fully appreciate that with the current cost of living crisis that many of our poorest tenants will be struggling to adequately heat their homes.
"To help with household bills we have produced HelpinBrum www.birmingham.gov.uk/livingsupport which offers support and advice to families and households who are struggling. Mould is common is many homes and we would urge all tenants to keep their properties well-ventilated and to treat small amounts of mould quickly before the fungus has a chance to spread.
"Should tenants find mould in their homes, please don’t hesitate to report it."
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